New FM transmitter has trick up its sleeve

Belkin, one of the leaders in wireless FM transmitters for portable audio products, has announced today a new technology available in its latest TuneBase product.

Many iPod owners are familiar with FM transmitters, those small devices that plug into your MP3 player and lets you listen to your music wirelessly on a nearby FM radio.

But you are probably also aware it can be difficult to find an unused spot on the FM dial (especially in Toronto) to hear your music clearly.

Today, however, Belkin announced its latest TuneBase FM transmitter is equipped with something called "ClearScan" technology, which can automatically seek out the clearest FM frequency to play your tunes.

So, for example, it might find that 93.7 FM is the best possible spot to hear your iPod music, while in another city it might be 101.1 FM, and so on. This sounds better than having to make your way down the FM dial, through trial and error, to find a suitable frequency.

Great idea. We look forward to test-driving the product when it comes out in October for about $99.99.